, 1887-05-03
GATHERING VANILLA PODS.
How tho Indians of Mexico Cultivate the
IJans and Prepare n for AInrIet.

How the Indians of Mexico Cultivate the
IJnns and Prepare n for Market.
The vanilla plant is found native in
Mexico, South America and the West
Indies; but it is only in the wild y~li!,yd
near tho eastern coast of the first m,n-
toned co1utry that the vanilla bea.i 8,
foim | possessing tho Characteristic which
maar5 1t valuable for the use of man. IN
the other countries it attains no pcr.rr-
ton, and is practically worthless. The
vanilla is IN orchid, and is cultivated
rudcly by the Mexican Indians, and by
them brought into the seaports and mar
ketcd, very largely in Vera Cruz. OF
the great natural beauties and wonderful
tropical features, especially the profusa
tropical vegetation of Mexico, the reader
has doubtless heard or read.
In the great valley of Mazatlan-an
immense sunken hole in the ground, a
depression of more than 5000 feet in it,
immediate surroundings, where every
manifestation of nature is on a grand
scale, vegetation unrivaled in luxuriance
and beauty, ferns being found there
seventy feet in height-in this valley
vanilla flourishes in a wild state, and
hero the supply of that flavoring for the
chocolate Of Montezuma was obtained,
and the region round about is the vanilla
center of the world. Nothing can exceed
the jealousy of the natives in guarding
its production from the eyes or the cog
nizance of the outside world, and all the
peculiarities Of Mexican outdoor life are
Illustrated in the ~brigandage which both
protects and preys upon the industry.
But few whites ever penetrate to MaZat-
Ian, and it is only at great risk of life and
lavish outlay that excursions are ever
made to that point. Few care to attempt
the adventure.
The Indians cultivate by tying the plant
to q scrub oak. when, being an orchid, it
vegetables upon the air. For the first four
years Of its life it bears no fruit, and after
that continues in bearing until fifteen
years old. The blossoms are in clusters,
somewhat resembling lilacs, but white in
color, and of the most powerful perfume,
similar to tuberoses. The green fruit, or
beans, depend from a stock, clustered like
banana5, which they nearly resemble in
size every way while the fruit is green.
1t ia gathered when not quite ripe, but
before the harvesting the beans have
diminished two or three on a stock. These
green beans, when gathered, weigh from
sixty to seventy-five pounds per 1,00C
(they are handled and sold by ~thousands),
but dwindle il the process of curing, so
that their weight finally is but from ten
to fourteen pounds per 1000 and shrink
from an inch, or rarely two inches, in
circumference to an attenuated pod not
much larger than a pipestem.
To cure properly requires about ninety
days time, and the manipulation is al
most infinite, each bean being handled
critically from 300 to 500 times in the
process by the Indians. The green beans,
as gathered, are disposed of in layers
first a layer of beans and then a blanket,
and 30 on till a pile is formed Of alternate
layers of beans and blankets. This is
called the sweating process, and during
its continuance the piles are turned two
or three times q day, until most of the
water has been "sweated' out. This
process is followed by drying in the sun,
and here the natives exercise the utmost
care and attention. When finished the
beans are to be the color of a very dark
cigar.-American Analyst.